Floating paint brush holder for paint cans



A ril 8, 1969 R. MOORE, JR 3,436,734

FLOATING PAINT BRUSH HOLDER FOR PAINT CANS Filed March 13, 1967 Sheet of 2 Fig 20 F 20 32 \I 32 P i 30 3k 1 l I 1 f /0 26 E 26 //6 ,6 I l8 kg Q /l Li] w x 30 Roland Moore, Jr.

INVENTOR.

April 8, 1969 R. MOORE, JR

FLOATING PAINT BRUSH HOLDER FOR PAINT CANS Filed March 13. 1967 I? of 2 Sheet Ra/and Moore, Jr.

Attorney:

United States Patent 3,436,784 FLOATING PAINT BRUSH HOLDER FOR PAINT CANS Roland Moore, Jr., 13427 Coleen, Warren, Mich. 48089 Filed Mar. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 622,790 Int. Cl. A471 13/56; B431 25/02; B4441 3/12 US. Cl. 15257.05 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A U-shaped wire adapter is inserted in a paint can. Detents on the upper ends of vertical adapter arms are suitably constructed to stay put in grooved lid attaching flange. A follower-type float-equipped brush holder slides on the arms and allows user to insert brush in the well of the holder. The holder is self-levelling and brush does not sink too low in paint. The holder has inlet holes which feed ample paint to brush.

Background of the invention This invention pertains to accessory means for use by painters and has to do, more particularly, with a readily attachable and detachable paint brush holder slidingly mounted on an adapter which is properly suspended in the paint in a can, bucket or other container. The holder is unique in that it provides a well for a regulable limited but ample supply of paint and descends with the level of the paint in a manner that the brush head follows the level of gradually descending contents of said container.

Prior arts There has long existed a need for a paint brush holder characterized by a well-type receiver capable of placement in the contents of an open top container and functioning automatically to progressively descend and to change the level of the brush head as the paint is gradually used by the painter. This concept is, however, not broadly new as can be ascertained, if the reader so desired, by checking a filter-type brush holder shown in a patent to Campbell 2,844,256 and wherein the bracketing means for the brush holder is readily attachable to the wall of the container or can. Along the same lines and constituting generally applicable prior art would be the well-like paint dispensing valved insert shown in a patent to Keys, 2,674,757 unlike the present invention in that it is built into the can.

Desirable aspects of the problem as construed in the instant matter, not taken care of by known prior art adaptations, are taken into account in the instant presentation. Therefore, the object of the present contribution to the art is to structurally, functionally and in other ways improve upon prior art paint brush holders, to provide an economical brush head eceiver which allows a limited amount of paint to enter the well portion and which is slidingly mounted on the vertical arms or limbs of an adapter detacha'bly bracketed to the paint can or other container.

Summary In carrying out the principles of the present invention the concept, generically speaking, calls for an adapter, for example, one which is of general U-shaped form and fits down into the receptacle of the paint can and has vertical limbs whose upper ends are fashioned into hook-like detents which are connectible with the usual channeled or grooved flange embodied in the mouth of the paint can. The receiver or holder provides a well and has inlet for a limited amount of paint. Means is provided for slidingly mounting the receiver or holder on 3,436,784 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 the limbs of the adapter. More importantly, float means is provided on the holder so that it is self-levelling, that is, descends gradually as the paint level lowers in the paint can.

Two embodiments or forms of the invention are exemplary of the over-all concept, one embodiment being shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and a second embodiment, slightly more complicated, in FIGS. 5 to 7 inclusive.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Description 09 the drawings FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the simpler form or embodiment of the two forms of the invention in readiness for use.

FIG. 2 is a view of the same in combination with the paint can or container and wherein it is inserted and the parts are shown in elevation and section.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the plane of the horizontal line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a modified embodiment of the invention by itself.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the can and the brush in phantom lines and with the invention in place and with parts appearing in section and elevation.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of one of the adjustable float components.

Description of the preferred embodiments Reference will be made first to FIGS. 1 to 3 wherein FIG. 1 shows the invention per se and FIG. 2 the invention in place and in combination with a conventional paint can. The can or container shown in FIG. 2 i a conventional cylindrical type and is denoted at 10. It is provided at its upper or open end with a mouth encircling endless flange 12 with the usual channel 01 groove means 14 to accommodate an endless bead on the attachable and detachable lid (not shown). The insertable and removable adapter for bracketing the invention in place is denoted at 16 and is of U-shaped form. More specifically it comprises a length of wire which is bent upon itself to assume the U-shaped appearance illustrated and which has a horizontal bight portion 18 and a pair of vertical limbs or arms 19 of requisite length. It should be mentioned here that the over-all device in the sense that it is an applicable and removable attachment will be made to fit accommodatingly in place in cans of different capacity. Factors of size and appearance are not particularly material. It will be noted that the upper laterally outwardly directed ends of the arms 20 are provided with depending L-shaped or hook-like detents 22 which in practice are fitted in the channel 14 whereby to permit the adapter to be inserted usually with the bight portion 18 resting on the interior of the bottom 11 of the can. The receiver or holder is in the form of a tapered hopper and, more specifically, comprise a sheet material box-like reeciver which is denoted generally at 24 and embodies downwardly converging side walls 26 and end walls 28, said end walls being provided near the bottom with parts or orifices '31 to admit a limited amount of paint in the manner evident it is believed in FIG. 2. The end Walls are provided with plastic or equivalent block-like floats 30 which are adhesively attached above the ports 3'1 and which have vertical passages 32 for the arms 1h. The float equipped self-feeding receiver is slidingly mounted on these arms. Hence when the arms are hooked in place the adapter is suitably suspended in the paint in the can thus providing a veritable self-levelling holder for the bristled head of the paint brush. With the device or attachment in place as illustrated in FIG. 2 the holder provides a well which receives a limited supply of paint by way of entry ports 31. Accordingly, the supply of paint in the well is ample and yet the brush head will not sink too deeply and undesirably in the paint. It follows that this simple and expedient holder and bracketing means well serves the purposes for which the invention ha been devised and perfected for use.

With reference now to the modification shown in its attachment form in FIG. 4, and including the combination aspect (FIG. 5) attention is directed to FIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive. Here the container or can is the same as before referred to and is denoted at 10A and is provided with a bottom wall 11A and has an open mouth or upper end encircled by a flange or rim 12A with customary channel or groove means 14A. The attachable and removable accessory comprises, as before, an inverted yoke or U- shaped wire adapter which is here diiferentiated by the numeral 34 and embodies a horizontal bight port-ion 36 and coplanar upstanding or vertical attaching arms or limbs 38 with outstanding upper end portions 40 bent to provide L-shaped or hook type detent 42 which are -ernovably keyed in the channel means 14A when the adapter is bracketed in the receptacle part of the can 10A as shown. In this embodiment of the invention the brush holder or receiver again comprises a substantially box-like member 44 whose receptacle portion provides a well 46 for the paint and paint brush. Here the box is substantially rectangular. The opposed side walls 48 are equipped with a group of floats; namely, two end members 50 (of suitable material) which are alike and which have beveled or undercut inner vertical edges 52 to accommodate the beveled end portions 54 of an insertable, removable and adjustable float 56. In other words, there are three parts grouped here and the middle part, float 56, is movable and is provided, if desired, with horizontal vertically spaced bores 58 for reception and temporary retention of a retaining and adjusting rod 60. With two fixed members 50 and an intervening adjustable float S6 cooperable therewith it is possible to change the over-all relevant buoyancy of the float means on both side walls and to vary the self-levelling follower action of the overall receiver. Here again the bottom portions of the end walls 62 of the receiver are provided with inlet ports 64 for the paint in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. The end walls are also provided with clips, that is upper clips 66 and lower clips 68 which have outstanding flanges 70 which are suitably apertured and slidingly mounted on the aforementioned adapter arms 38. In both forms of the invention the adapter means for bracketing the attachment in place is structurally and basically the same. The difference is found in the well-type holder for reception of the brush and for reception and retention of the limited supply of paint whereby to insure an adequate supply and yet to permit the brush to descend gradually as the paint is used up.

The simplified construction and arrangement of the float-equipped receiver or holder 24 is clear in FIG. 1 and is likewise equally clear, it is submitted, in its modified form in FIG. 4. The manner in which the adapter is bracketed in place is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 and the manner of use is also amply illustrated. A more extensive description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An accessory for use in the receptacle portion of a paint containing can of a type having an annular flange at its top, said flange having a lid keying and retaining channel, said accessory comprising, in combination, an adapter formed from a length of wire bent upon itself into U-shaped form and capable of being fitted and removably confined when in use in the receptacle portion of said can, said adapter embodying a pair of upstand in g coplanar positioning and retaining arms having lower end portions connected by a bight portion which is adapted to seat itself atop the bottom of said can, said arms being of a vertical length that upper free end portions are capable of projecting upwardly through and beyond tht open top of the can, said upper ends provided with readily attachable and detachable detents designed and adapted to be retentively but removably fitted in the channel of the aforementioned flange, and a complemental brush holder embodying bottom, side and end walls and defining an open top box-like receiver, certain of said walls being provided adjacent the plane of said bottom wall with restricted inlet ports by way of which paint in the can can flow into and enter said receiver for accessible use, said receiver being positioned between said arms and above said bight portion and having means thereon for slidably and shiftably receiving said arms therein for properly orienting the ope-n top of said receiver to locate a brush therein and to permit said accessory and brush to be removed from the cam as a unit.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said end walls have floats superimposed upon and attached exteriorly to said end walls, said floats having guide passages therethrough and the arms of said adapter passing through the respective guide passages.

3. The combination defined in and according to claim 2 and wherein each float is of block-like form, the lower end portions of said floats terminating at a level above the level of the cooperating inlet ports.

4. The combination according to claim 1, said sidewalls being provided with float means embodying at least a pair of fixed components and a companion complemental intervening adjustable float between said fixed components, said adjustable float being regulable manually to vary the degree of buoyancy of said holder.

5. The combination defined in and according to claim 4 and wherein said adjustable float is provided with a plurality of selectively usable vertically spaced horizontally disposed bores and at least one of said fixed components is provided with a coacting here with which one of said first-named bores can be aligned, and a bodily insertable and removable retaining rod passing through the single bore and removably but retentively fitted into a selected one of said bores.

6. The combination defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein the end walls of said holder are provided with aligned vertically spaced holder attaching and retaining clips, said clips having outstanding apertured flanges and the apertured portions of said flanges being slidable on their respectively cooperable adapter arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1945 Burman l5257.05 6/1960 Kravitt l5257.05 

